Gold, Aurum, Jin 金

Jin (TCM)
Gser གསེར (Tibetan)
Tila (Unani)
Svara (Ayurveda)

Hortus sanitatis, 1491

Native Gold
British Mineralogy, Sowerby, 1811

Gold coins
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

The Latrobe Gold Nugget (717 grams)
Photo by Gump Stump

Mineralogical name:

Aurum

Parts used:

1. Gold Leaf or Powder
2. ‘Potable Gold’ (Gold in dissolution)
3. Ash (Bhasma)
4. Gold chloride; Aurum muriaticum (prepared with Aqua Regia)

Temperature & Taste:

Neutral. Bitter, Sweet.
Pacifies all Humors and is a tonic to all the Body Tissues

Properties:

Nature: granular, dendrites, nuggets
Color: golden yellow
Streak: Bright Yellow
Cleavage: none
Fracture: hackly
Lustre: Metallic
Tenacity: very malleable, ductile
Transparency: Opaque
Hardness: 2.5–3
Specific Gravity: 19.3 (from 15.6–19.55 depending on admixture and processing method)
Melting Point: 1300 degrees C.

Classifications:

3D. CORDIALS & CARDIACS
3I. APHRODISIACS
4c. CARDIAC
G. Sedate the Heart, Mind and Spirit
N. Tonics

Uses:

1. Strengthens the Heart, Cheers the Spirits (TCM, West, Ayurveda, Tibetan):

-benefits Memory and Intelligence
-all infirmities of the Vital and Animal Spirits (Qi and Spirit)
-low Spirits, Melancholy; Nervous exhaustion
-Insanity, Mania, Depressive Psychosis, Suicidal thought
-Palpitations
-prevents Angina Pectoris and Heart attack
-traditionally used against Sorcery (by protecting the Heart and Spirit)
-“Chronic Heart affections, with feeling as if dying, difficult breathing after walking, sobbing in sleep” (The medical genius – a guide to the cure, Jones, 1887)

2. Calms Wind, Stops Spasms (TCM, West, Ayurveda, Tibetan):

-Epilepsy, Apoplexy
-Childhood Convulsions
-Migraine
-Fright; Hysteria

3. Benefits Yin and Yang, Nourishes Essence (TCM, West, Ayurveda, Tibetan):

-Consumption, Wasting diseases, Hectic Fever (TCM, West, Ayurveda)
-Nightly Bone pain (The medical genius – a guide to the cure, Jones, 1887)
-benefits Fertility, increases Semen
-prevents Miscarriage (Paracelsus)
-promotes Longevity in all traditions
-‘Promotes long Life and leads to Immortality’. (Chen Cang Qi)
-‘Given as a Cordial to strengthen in all diseases’ (Schroeder)
-improves Complexion

4. Strengthens the Kidneys, Benefits the Bones (TCM, West, Ayurveda):

-lower back pain, Sciatica
-chronic Arthritis, Rheumatism, all chronic diseases of the Bones
-Diabetes-like disorders

5. Clears Heat and Poison from the Blood (TCM, West, Ayurveda, Tibetan):

-purifies the Blood; used against Poison
–Schroder said ‘it cleanses the Blood by discussing Noxious Humors by Sweat’.
-chronic Skin diseases including Leprosy, Herpes and Psoriasis
-Syphilis, Syphilitic Bone disease
-Ulcers, Fistulas
-counters ill effects of Mercury

6. Clears Phlegm, Resolves Masses:

-Fibroid Tumors, Scrofula, Lymphatic swellings, Cancer
-chronic Inflammations, Tumors of the Uterus or Ovaries
-highly regarded by some in Cancer and Cancerous Ulcers

7. Strengthens Spleen, Benefits Digestion:

-promotes appetite and digestion, increases assimilation (Ayurveda, Bhasma)

8. Externally:

-rubbing Gold on a stye removes it
–Hildegard said rubbing Gold on a Tumor or Swelling caused it to resolve
-Gold leaf has been successfully applied to heal chronic Ulcers and Sores

Uses from the Auralists

According to the Auralists who specifically used Gold and Gold Salts, the effects of Gold are:
   i) vascular and muscular excitant
   ii) Promotes Absorption
   iii) Increase Urine
   iv) Promotes Perspiration
   v) Promotes secretion of Saliva
   vi) Stimulates the Stomach, Promote Appetite
   vii) Promotes Bowel movement
   viii) Promotes Menstruation
   ix) Stimulates Generative Organs
   x) Has a strong action on the Nervous system.
Taken from Gold as a Remedy in Diseases of the Heart, J.C. Burnett, MD. New Delhi, reprinted 1985.

Dose:

Powder or Gold Leaf: 5–25mg (up to 125mg); traditionally: 1/30th–1/20th of a grain; Often pills are wrapped in Gold leaf.
Bhasma: 5–15mg (1/10th–1/4 of a grain)
CHLORIDE of GOLD: 0.05 to 0.25 of a grain, often with sugar.
COLLOIDAL SUSPENSION of GOLD: 10 drops (containing 0.1 grain of the metal.)

Main Combinations:

1. Epilepsy, Gold with Cinnabar and Peony root
2. Epilepsy, or for diseases of the Womb, Gold with Red Coral, Amber, Pearl
3. To strengthen the Nerves, Gold with Nutmeg, Mastic, Saffron, Tragacanth, Delphinium, Clove
4. Fever, Influenza, Pneumonia, Plague etc., Gold with prepared Silver, Pearl, Ruby, Cinnabar, Realgar, Aconite root (Ayurveda)
5. Poor or failing Eyesight, Gold with Boerhaavia juice (Ayurveda)
6. Insanity, give Gold with Ginger, Pepper, Cloves (Ayurveda)
7. To Rejuvenate the body:
i. Gold with Milk, Cream or Ghee (Ayurveda)
ii. Gold, Shilajit, Mica Bhasma
8. Heart disease, Gold with Arjuna and Cane Sugar (Ayurveda)
9. To improve complexion, Gold with Saffron (Ayurveda)
10. Enhance Memory, Gold with Calamus (Ayurveda)
11. Syphilis:
i. Gold (chloride) is taken with Syrup of Sarsaparilla
ii. Gold (chloride) has been combined with Aconite.
12. Scrofula, Gold (chloride) with Gentian, Mezereon bark, Foxglove leaf, Bitter Orange peel. (Memorial Pharmaceutique, 1824)
13. Glandular hardening and Fibroid Tumors, Gold chloride (½ scruple), Extract of Hemlock, Hemlock powder (1 dram each), form pills of 1 grain each. Dose: 1 pill twice daily.
14. Cancerous Ulcers, Gold chloride (1 grain), White Sugar (2 drams). Powder, divide into 12 doses. Take 1 dose twice daily. (Rust)
15. Cervical Cancer: Gold chloride (1 grain), White Sugar (1 dram). Powder, divide into 12 doses. Take 1 dose twice daily. (Sobernheim, 1840)
16. Ointment for hard swellings and fibroid tumors: Gold chloride (2–3 grains), Ointment of Rose (1 oz.). Mix and apply.

Major Formulas:

Cakes of Pearl and Gold
Confection of Hyacinth (Confectio de Hyacintho)
Cooling Powder of Gems
Cordial Powder
Diacameron Magna (Diathamaron) (Nicholas)
Electuary for Sadness and Worry
Electuary of Gems (Mesue)
Medicine to Defend the Base from all Danger
The Goa Stone
Letificans Conciliatoris
Powder Against Abortion (France)
Powder Against Miscarriage
Powder of Cinnabar for Vertigo
Powder of Gems for Palpitations (Wirtzung)
Powder of Happiness (Letificans)
Powder of Marquis
Red Hungarian Powder
Temperate Cordial Powder of Gems
Temperate Electuary for the Heart
Troches for Heart Weakness
Vigorous Cakes
Warming Powder of Gems (Mesue)
An Gong Niu Huang Wan
Zhi Bao Dan
Zi Xue Dan

Cautions:

None noted.
Avoid overdose of the Salts.

Main Preparations used:

Powder Gold; Leaf Gold; Precipitated Gold, Sugar of Gold, Syrup of Gold, Tincture of Gold, Gold Oxide, Ash (Bhasma); numerous other preparations

1. Divided, Powdered or Reduced Gold:
i. leaf Gold can be triturated with Gum Arabic and Honey, then dissolve the mixture in hot water and filter, the divided Gold remaining on the filter is dried.
ii. In a porcelain mortar, add several leaves of gold leaf and about 20 times the amount of powdered potassium sulphate and grind to a very fine powder, then wash off the salt with hot water and dry the remaining gold powder. (Hager’s)
iii. Gold leaf (1 part), Mercury (6 parts). Make an amalgam by triturating in an earthen mortar, then dissolve the Mercury with hot nitric acid, then dry and powder the residue.
2. Precipitated Gold.
A gold chloride solution, which contains some free hydrochloric acid, is mixed with as much ferrosulfate solution as this produces a precipitate. The latter is collected, washed out and dried. It forms a deep brown, lusterless powder, which takes on a metallic sheen under pressure and rubbing.
3. Sugar of Gold:
Powdered Gold (100mg), Powdered Sugar (10 grams). Mix.
4. Syrup of Gold
Powdered Gold (1 grams), Sugar Syrup (30 grams)
Taken internally in teaspoonful doses. Also applied to Ulcers of the Throat. (Hager’s)
5. Chloruret of Gold, Aurum muriaticum:
i. Gold leaves (1 part), Hydro-chloro-nitric acid (3 parts). Digest in a sand bath moderately hot, then evaporate the solution, very gradually, to dryness. Dose: one tenth of a grain per day. (Anti-syphilitic, diaphoretic)
6. Powder of Chloruret of Gold.
Chloruret of Gold (1 grain), Starch (1 dram). Divide into 15 doses (Niemann)
7. Tincture of Gold; Aurum Potabile:
i. Gold (1 dram), Hydrochloro-nitric acid (1 oz.). Dissolve, add Essential Oil of Rosemary (2 oz.). Set aside until the color of the acid has entirely dissipated by absorption of the oil. Dissolve this in Rectified Spirit (8 oz.). Dose: 10 drops. (Pharmacopoeia Generalis, 1783)
8. Gold Oxide, Aurum Oxydatum, Calx of Gold:
Note these are similar to Bhasma of Ayurveda.
i. By Calcination: Gold (1 part), Mercury (6 parts). Make an amalgam, triturate with twice its weight of sulphur; then calcine until the Mercury and Sulphur have dissipated and the Gold remains as a brown powder. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)
ii. By Precipitation: Dissolve Gold in sufficient Hydrochloro-nitric acid. Dilute the solution with 12 parts water. Then add solution of potassium, enough that it remains in slight excess; then wash and dry the precipitate which forms. (Pharmacopoeia Hannoverana, 1819)

Extra Info
History
Research
Comment

Pliny on Gold
‘Gold is efficacious as a remedy in many ways, being applied to wounded persons and to infants, to render any malpractices of sorcery comparatively innocuous that may be directed against them. Gold, however, itself is mischievous in its effects if carried over the head; in the case of chickens and lambs more particularly. The proper remedy in such cases is to wash the Gold, and to sprinkle the water upon the objects which it is wished to preserve. Gold, too, is melted with twice its weight of Salt, and three times its weight of Misy; after which it is again melted with two parts of Salt, and one of the stone called ‘Schistos’. Employed in this manner, it withdraws the natural acridity from the substances torrefied with it in the crucible, while at the same time it remains pure and incorrupt; the residue forming an ash, which is preserved in an earthen vessel, and is applied with water for the curse of lichens on the face: the best method of washing it off is with bean-meal. These ashes have the property also of curing Fistulas, and the discharges known as Hemorrhoids: with the addition, too, of powdered Pumice, they are a cure of Putrid Ulcers and Sores, which emit an offensive smell. Gold, boiled in Honey with Melanthium and applied as a liniment to the navel, acts as a gentle purgative upon the bowels. M. Varro assures us that Gold is a cure for Warts’. (Pliny the Elder, 77AD, translated by Bostock and Riley)

Salmon, Seplasium:
‘It is Cordial, mundifying, strengthening the Heart, cheers the Spirits, strengthens the Natural Balsam of Blood, and therefore is given successfully in all Diseases, wherein the Heat, Life, Vivacity and strength of both Body and Spirits need repairing; it is Sudorific, cleanses the Blood, discusses the Humors, and resists the Poison of Mercury, and other Mineral fumes’.

‘And as its Tincture, given in wine to 10 or 20 drops, does revive those that are at Deaths door; so also it is very good against the Falling-Sickness [Epilepsy], Apoplexy, Palsy, Vertigo, Megrim [Migraine], Lethargy, and other diseases of the Head, and destroys the root and seminaries of all Malignant and poisonous diseases; It resists Putrefaction and is prevalent against the Plague, and all sorts of Pestilential diseases’.

‘A plate of fine Gold, held upon the Tongue, is said to Quench Thirst in Fevers’.

‘And authors say, that Leaves of Gold, applied to Ulcers, consumes all superfluous flesh without pain or biting; and cauteries made of Gold are said much to exceed those made of steel’.

‘A powder of the Amalgama [with Mercury] given according to Art inwardly, and applied outwardly, is effectual against the Elephantiasis, Leprosy, and such like cutaneous diseases’.

GENERAL / REVIEW
–A Review on Traditional Ayurvedic Preparations Containing Gold
–China’s Ancient Gold Drugs
–The Siddhars: the great artisans of gold medicines in medieval South India
–Gold and nano-gold in medicine: overview, toxicology and perspectives.
–Use of gold nanoparticles in diagnostics, surgery and medicine: a review
–The Use of Metals in Tibeto-Mongolian Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine: Gold and Silver as Examples
–Therapeutic gold. Is it due for a come-back?
–Nanogoldpharmaceutics
–Assessment of bioavailability of gold bhasma in human participants–a pilot study
PREPARATION:
–Pharmaceutical Standardization of Swarna Bhasma (incinerated gold) by adopting traditional method
–Nanostructured gold in ancient Ayurvedic calcined drug ‘swarnabhasma’
ENHANCES IMMUNITY
–Augmentation of non-specific immunity in mice by gold preparations used in traditional systems of medicine
ANXIETY / DEPRESSION
–Anti-cataleptic, anti-anxiety and anti-depressant activity of gold preparations used in Indian system of medicine
DIABETES
–Anti-diabetic activity of traditional Indian gold containing preparation: Shadguna Balijarita Makaradhwaja on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats
ARTHRITIS
–Nanogoldpharmaceutics
–Gold treatment in rheumatoid arthritis
–Gold complexes in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
–Gold treatment of arthritis: a review of 900 cases
–Management of rheumatoid arthritis: rationale for the use of colloidal metallic gold
–Gold therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: report of a multi-centre controlled trial
CANCER
–Gold-Based Medicine: A Paradigm Shift in Anti-Cancer Therapy?
–Gold nanoparticles in cancer treatment
–Gold nanoparticles as novel agents for cancer therapy
–Gold nanoparticles in diagnostics and therapeutics for human cancer
–Gold derivatives for the treatment of cancer
–Gold-based medicine: a paradigm shift in anti-cancer therapy?
–Progress in research on gold nanoparticles in cancer management
BREAST
–Gold nanoparticles induce apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells
–Gold nanoparticles in breast cancer treatment: promise and potential pitfalls
LIVER
–Gold nanoparticles application in liver cancer
–Anticancer activity of eco-friendly gold nanoparticles against lung and liver cancer cells
LEUKEMIA
–Cytotoxicity, anti-acute leukemia, and antioxidant properties of gold nanoparticles green-synthesized using Cannabis sativa L leaf aqueous extract
LUNG
–Anticancer activity of eco-friendly gold nanoparticles against lung and liver cancer cells